FTC is lining up a Google antitrust case

UNITED STATES TRADE WATCHDOG the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is close to announcing an investigation of the business practices of internet search firm Google, according to a report.

Reuters quotes sources to report that the FTC is close to announcing an investigation, having decided that perhaps Google has done something to warrant one.

Sources told the wire service that three FTC commissioners are convinced of the need for an investigation and there is one more who is "sceptical".

The FTC has not confirmed that it is considering the investigation, and we are still waiting for a response from Google.

An announcement that the investigation has started could come as soon as November or December according to the sources.

It is likely that it will cover whether Google is abusing its position in internet search to the detriment of the competition. This could look at whether it steers internet users to its own services at the cost of other firms.

Closer to home, the European Commission's competition minister has said to have come close to a decision about his team's investigation into whether Google abuses its position, which has been ongoing since the Spring of this year.

"We want to advance in our investigation but we want to advance on a solid basis," said European Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia way back in March. µ